iPads look stunning thanks to their aluminum back and glass façade. Nevertheless, these materials can easily be scratched and dented either after a drop or after a few months of strained usage. Protecting your iPad from these unwanted rubs and itches is important — not only to preserve its original appearance, but also to make it easier to resell in the future.

However, choosing the right cover and case can be overwhelming, given the number of options available on the market. To make it even more complicated, some products only cover part of your iPad, others won’t let you use it while it’s in the case and many aren’t compatible with Apple’s Smart Cover functionality. In order to make this selection process easier for you, we’ve picked an all-in-one case that many consider to be one of the best iPad cases available, and also one of the most affordable on the market: The KHOMO Super Slim Dual.(more…)

When it comes to the iPad and case usage, my family is divided. My mom is a case person, as is my wife. They’ll by these huge book looking things that distract from the clean lines of the iPad and make it three inches thicker. My dad and I use Smart Covers, mostly because we want to protect the screen but that’s about it. As for my kid, well his iPad 1 is in a Fisher Price case because after we found a dent in the corner of the device that actually bent the glass, we realized we should protect it a bit more.

What about you? Do you use a case or do you like yours naked? Let us know in the poll to the right!

Last week, I asked you what kind of case you used on your iPad, but after the fact I started thinking about cases as a whole. With my original iPad, I never used a case — I still don’t, unless I’m packing it for a trip. With the new iPad, I find my Smart Cover to be part of the reason that it’s so functional. But what about you? Do you use a case on your iPad or do you keep it au naturale? Let us know in the poll to the right!

When I bought my new iPad, I knew that I wanted a Smart Cover, no question about it. But then I got to the Apple Store and saw the Smart Case for the first time and wondered if it would work better for my needs. My wife prefers a sleeve case for her iPad, while other family members like traditional cases. So what flavor of case do you prefer? Let us know in the poll to the right!

Just a few days ago, we ran a post where Joel covered the unprecedented explosion of the iPad case market. More than any other device in history, the iPad has an entire industry dedicated to cases, bags, stands, and many other variants.

Also, the iPad’s unique intended use (somewhere between a computer and a phone) and its support for additional utility (such as bluetooth keyboards) makes the device particularly susceptible to the development of cases/stands that do more than just protect the glass and aluminum.

Especially since the iPad 2, I’ve noticed that many case-makers are designing cases and covers that have the potential to drastically impact the way you use the device. From Smart Covers to waterproof sleeves, these cases let you take the iPad places you couldn’t before, and do things that were previously reserved for laptop computers. “Surely there can’t be that many of these cases!” I hear you clamor. Well buckle up, because here comes an assortment of useful, unique, and just plain outlandish iPad and iPad 2 cases that can change the way you use your device.

Last month we ran an intriguing poll that simply asked what type of iPad case you used, and the results got me thinking. The success of the iPad has allowed an almost laughably vast industry to grow up simply providing cases and covers of all shapes and sizes, covering every possible need while allowing you to spend up to $4,900 (for an iPad case made from the finest alligator skin) in the process.

No other item I can think of has caused such a strong bout of case-fever. Even the Nokia 3310 only had one actual type of case, albeit in an almost unwaveringly disgusting smorgasbord of colours and designs. The clearest thing that was highlighted by the poll is the surprisingly even spread of cases people owned and used, there seemed to be no clear consensus on the ‘best’ way to protect, carry, and augment the iPad.

This week I’m on a mission to find out what type of iPad case is most popular among the discerning readers of iPad.AppStorm. I’m sure most of us will have a case that we use from time to time to protect the iPad in transit, but which type is the most prevalent?

For the sake of simplicity I’ve taken the executive decision to exclude the Smart Cover from the equation, I was coming up with far too many variables! In my mind if you have an iPad 2 you almost definitely have, and use, the Smart Cover and if you don’t, you don’t.

Besides, you probably use a case in addition to the iPad – I just wouldn’t feel comfortable putting my iPad in my bag with just its (expensive) Smart Cover on.

I know that when I first got an iPad I had a hard time deciding what case would be the right one for me, I’m fortunate that I chose wisely – I’ve only ever bought one zip case and it fits the iPad 2 and Smart Cover like a dream.

Did you face a case dilemma? What did you go with? I seriously have no idea what will come out on top here!

Feel free to comment below with your thoughts, especially if you have a case that fits none of the descriptions!

Ah, yes, the dreaded pre-trip. Depending on the kind of person you are it could be a month-long process, or just consist of throwing a change of clothes in your car and filling up your tank with gas. In any case, it’s probably stressful. Something’s bound to go wrong, or at least not go according to plan. And so adding one more thing to do – preparing your iPad – isn’t a really good thing, is it?

That’s why you’re reading this, right? Because I’m going to tell you precisely what you need to do so your iPad is perfectly prepared for any trip. Well, perhaps that’s a stretch, but I’m definitely going to give you the best head start I can. Just remember: don’t panic!